A teenage girl was lucky to escape unharmed after a gunman fired through a living room front window where she was trying out her new headphones.
The house in Moston, Manchester, was targeted with gunfire twice on Christmas Day but both times those inside avoided injury.
The gunshot missed the teenager, who was left in severe shock afterwards. The shooting happened just after she had finished Christmas dinner with her family, who were in a back room at the time, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The near-miss was described by a neighbour who said the girl was taken into an ambulance to be treated for shock but did not require hospital treatment.
“It shook her up badly,” said the resident, who declined to be named.
Police have now launched an investigation into the ‘frightening and shocking incident’ at a semi-detached house on Chelston Avenue in Moston on Christmas Day evening and have stepped up patrols in the area.
It was the second time that day the house had been shot at, after a gunshot was fired at the property hours earlier just after 1am.
Some residents in the small cul-de-sac described the targeted family as ‘nice people’ who may have been the victim of mistaken identity.
The second shooting happened at around 5pm when the rest of the family were in a room at the rear of the property.
The teenager’s mother, a teacher, her partner and her 14-year-old child were also in the property as well as three other Christmas dinner guests, another couple and their toddler.
It only became clear following the 5pm shooting that a shot had been fired through the same window at 1am earlier on Christmas Day.
Residents in the the street described how the family had reported the earlier matter to police online, unaware at the time that it was a shooting.
Describing the 1am incident, one resident, who declined to be name, said: “It sounded like a firework going off. They reported that online.
“Fortunately they were at the back of the house (when the second shooting happened). They are just normal, nice people.
“We’ve been here 13 years and we’ve next to them and we’ve never seen anything like this at all. They both work.
“There are fireworks round here all the time and you become a bit immune to it. They were in shock. It’s just why? How on earth can this happen? I think they were all in shock. It’s such a quiet avenue. What’s going on?”
Another neighbour said: “I was still up. It was a loud bang. Everyone thought it was a firework. It was really loud. And then it happened again when I wasn’t home. We came back and we saw police everywhere. They closed the whole street down.
“They are a very nice family. It’s scary for everyone. It looks like they got the wrong house.”
The family concerned have moved out of the property.
Detectives are describing the shooting as an ‘isolated incident with no further risk to the public’. They have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
No arrests have been made.
Inspector Stuart Woodhead, of GMP’s City of Manchester division, said: “This was an extremely frightening and shocking incident for all involved, who at the time of the second discharge, were trying to enjoy a Christmas dinner together.
“I would like to reassure the community that we are treating these discharges very seriously and are doing all that we can to protect residents and investigate this incident. Additional high-visibility police patrols will be present in the coming days to ensure the safety of those in the area.
“We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed either of these firearms discharges or has any information at all to please come forward and speak to police as a matter of urgency.
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